“The nickname “Bandersnatch Cummerbund” originated with one of the serious students of television who join me each Friday to chat about all things TV.”

In a short article entitled “Sherlock vs Downton”, the journalist originally used the correct spelling of Cumberbatch in her introduction, before using the bizarre alternative in the third and final paragraph.

Reporter Lisa de Moraes wrote: “In a recent New York Times interview, Bandersnatch Cummerbund — who plays the Conan Doyle character — said that when “Masterpiece” exec producer Rebecca Eaton showed him “Downton’s” Golden Globe award back in January, he responded: “Begone, woman. Bring it back when it says ‘Sherlock Holmes’ or Steven Moffat, or myself — someone else who’s more deserving than the second [season] of ‘Downton Abbey.’”